Pasco County Schools history

3, 1888, school board minutes show Argo School No.

The following September the sisters began teaching at the San Antonio and St Joseph elementary schools and their academy became a “select school for young ladies.” Later in 1889 the main Saint Leo College building, a three-story structure, was constructed.

School board minutes of February 3, 1890, show that the suspension of a student, Eddie Blocker, was upheld by the board.

On July 7, 1892, school board minutes show Argo School No.

Minutes of March 1, 1897, have: “A letter showing that there were thirty five colored children of School age in Macon district and asking the Board to grant them a school was filed.

6, 1900, school board minutes show that Mrs.

6, 1903, school board minutes show Lillie Tait appointed as the teacher.

School board minutes of July 4, 1904, have: “The petitions of the patrons of Schools no.

School board minutes of March 6, 1905, have: “On motion Miss Bigger was allowed to continue her music classes but to excuse those who can not sing, and those whom their parents request to be excused.” She was apparently teaching at the high school in Dade City at this time.

At the end of the 1909-10 school year, several small schools were closed and a new two-story Zephyrhills Consolidated School was built between Fifth and Sixth Streets and Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

In June 1913 school board minutes show Cephas Geiger as the teacher at the Cootie School.

4-5, 1916, have: “Board authorized trustees of Fivay No.

21, 1917, the Tampa Tribune reported that Miss Ruth Davis of Dade City had been appointed as teacher at Crystal Springs.

4, 1918, meeting the school board voted to open the Dade City schools on Nov.

In September 1919, Miss Bessie Goodwin was appointed the teacher.

In March 1920 the school board members, county superintendent, and attendance officer inspected the schools in western Pasco County.

School board minutes of May 1, 1922, indicate that Harvey and Cobb of Aripeka offered to furnish lumber for a school in return for tuition for county line pupils.

8, 1925, the Dade City Banner reported, “Miss Emma Boyce has accepted the position as teacher of the Oak Hill school, in place of Miss Loy, who resigned last week.”

10, 1926, the Dade City Banner printed some remarks by School Superintendent O'Berry: “Practically every school in the county is crowded to the limit.

1928, Schools Superintendent E. B. O'Berry, seeking re-election, stated that every high school of the county was on the highest accredited list of the state and that during his present term a considerable amount of the debt left by the former administration had been paid.

September 1, 1930 was set as the regular opening date for all schools, however, some schools may open earlier because of local conditions.

7, 1931, the Zephyrhills News reported, “The date of opening of most of the schools in Pasco County has been postponed from August 31 to September 28, by the board of public instruction of Pasco County, at a special meeting held July 27.

Minutes of July 15, 1932, have: Pasco School was ordered closed until ordered open by the Board. .

Lefler, seconded and carried: On recommendation of the Trustees, the following teachers were appointed in the Zephyrhills School for the term 1934 - 35.

7 Dade City, recommended the appointment of the following teachers in this District for the year 1935 - 36.

Which said rejection was made on the 8th day of Sept., A. D. 1936, and for the following cause and reasons, to wit:

On June 4, 1937, the Zephyrhills News reported:

30, 1938, the New Port Richey Press reported that State Superintendent Colin English announced that eight public schools in Pasco County fulfill state educational requirements and are on the list approved by the State Board of Education as standard schools.

Alice Atwater was appointed teacher at Slaughter for 1939 - 40.

In October 1943 the Trilby school was destroyed by fire.

30, 1948, the New Port Richey Press reported that the school board put into use five new school buses following the Christmas holiday, bringing to 23 the total number of buses used in transporting pupils to the various schools.

10, 1950, Governor Fuller Warren removed from office James F. Croley, chairman of the school board.

In June 1951, the school board accepted the resignation of Leon R. Luckenbach, the Principal of Zephyrhills High School, who quit because he refused to grant a diploma to a member of the senior class who had joined the Marine Corps.

In the primary election in May 1956, Chester Taylor defeated Mark St Clair for superintendent of schools by 42 votes.

Gulf High Beta Club to State Convention, Jacksonville, April 26, 1961

Ralph D. Cripe - Professional leave to attend State Convention of American Guild of Organists at Tampa, May 7 and 8, 1962

In December 1963 Gulf High School was removed from the list of approved schools of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Raymond B. Stewart came to Zephyrhills in 1964 to serve as Principal of Zephyrhills High School.

In the 1966-67 school year, African-American students were allowed to attend Gulf High School.

Williams moved that Choice of School Forms be prepared the same as last year with dates for choice to be from May 2 through May 31, 1967, for the East Pasco Area only.

Pasco County schools will be open Monday, February 19, 1968 and thereafter.

23, 1969, Pasco County voters rejected a proposed $9.9 million bond issue for the purpose of building new schools and remodeling existing schools.

In May 1970, voters again rejected a proposed bond issue, this time by a 2-1 margin.

On March 15, 1971, the school board approved a proposal to operate double sessions at all elementary schools in western Pasco County, at Zephyrhills High School, and at Sanders Memorial Elementary School.

On July 20, 1972, the St Petersburg Times reported that Michael C. Buckley, a new principal for Pasco County, was on the job organizing plans for the new Schrader Elementary School scheduled to open at mid-semester next year.

On March 20, 1973, schools superintendent Rodney B. Cox died in office at age 48.

Dade City residents and businesses helped raise more than $100,000 to buy 100 acres where the first campus was established in 1974.

The school principals had already begun space allocation studies. [The schools did switch facilities, in 1977.]

In 1984 the school board voted to adopt a uniform grade structure with kindergarten through sixth grade for elementary schools, grades 7 and 8 for middle schools, and grades 9 through 12 for high schools.

In July 1987 the school board adopted a policy of adding the sixth grade to middle schools, based on new state legislation.

The college moved to Pasco County on June 1, 1988, originally operating out of Westside Baptist Church in New Port Richey.

At its meeting on May 14, 1991, the school board voted to convert Richey Elementary to a traditional neighborhood school.

Cotee River Elementary School at 7515 Plathe Road in New Port Richey opened at the beginning of the 1994-95 school year.

Construction began on March 2, 1998, on a 52-acre site next to Weightman Middle School.

18, 2003, Governor Jeb Bush attended the dedication of Bishop McLaughlin High School, the first Catholic high school in Pasco County in modern times.

Jerry) Hunt, whose birthplace was adjoining.” A local researcher believes that, based on this description, Chipco School was near the intersection of Nathe Road and Jessamine Road on a 2005 map, probably in the southwest corner of that intersection, give or take a few hundred feet.

21, 2006, Frank Parker, a former New Port Richey mayor, and Allen Altman were sworn in as new members, ending an 18-year period during which the board consisted entirely of women. [At one time the Pasco County School Board was said to be the only board in the U. S. composed entirely of women.]

A 2008 article in the Zephyrhills News reported:

The first graduation was held at the USF Sun Dome on May 31, 2009, with about 300 seniors.

In April 2010 the main building was demolished and crews began work on a new structure to replace it.

13, 2011, the school board gave final approval to its $1.04 billion 2011-12 budget, a spending plan that came about only after more than 500 jobs were eliminated, unpaid furlough days imposed on employees, and other spending cuts initiated.

In March 2013 schools superintendent Kurt Browning announced a plan to eliminate about 100 jobs in order to cut $23 million in spending for the coming school year.

Lou Cerreta resigned as principal effective May 20, 2014, to become director of professional development for Pinellas County schools.

The school re-opened with an entirely remodeled facility in August 2015.

In August 2017 Cypress Creek Middle High School opened off Old Pasco Road midway between SR 52 and SR 54.

On March 31, 2020, the school district began a distance learning program with students using computers at home.